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Help INHF congratulate Joe Jayjack, our new Director of Communications. Jayjack served as interim director beginning June 1 and will now take over the position permanently. Jayjack will oversee all INHF communications and outreach.

Joe hails from Council Bluffs in the Loess Hills of western Iowa and graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in journalism. He has worked for the Des Moines Register as a designer and on the art staff atCuisine at Home magazine at August Home Publishing.

When Joe joined the INHF team in December as a communications specialist, he knew the position was a great fit: “I have been following INHF for a long time,” he said. “I have always been interested in conservation and have enjoyed the work that INHF has done. With my interest in storytelling and conservation, I thought this would be the perfect job to combine the two and help share the story of the work that INHF does across the state.”

Joe can be reached by email at jjayjack@inhf.org or by phone at 515-288-1846, ext. 19.

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Director of Communications Hannah Inman announced May 4 that she was leaving INHF at the end of the month to spend more time with her family and help with their family business. Inman had been with INHF since 2011, and she has become an integral part of the Iowa conservation community over the last four years. Her work with the foundation included overseeing a redesign of Iowa Natural Heritage magazine and the launch of the first-of-its-kind Iowa By Trail app. Inman wrote the following about her departure:

In my first few weeks of working at Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, I took a trip to one of our properties in northeast Iowa. As I hiked the property with Brian Fankhauser, our Blufflands Director, the mission of INHF moved from words said to words felt.

As I stood up on the bluff overlooking the winding Upper Iowa River, deer ran through the newly restored woodland while an immature bald eagle and its parent flew below me. A deep peace came over me and it was in that moment that I knew my purpose was to help protect these places for the voiceless — for those that long ago loved this place, for those that will love this land and for the many other species that call this place home. I needed to be a voice and steward for our home — for our land, water, wildlife and future generations.

Over the last four years, working at INHF, I have been able to do that. I am incredibly proud and humbled with the work we have done together. We redesigned Iowa Natural Heritage magazine, launched the Iowa by Trail app, witnessed an inspiring transition between foundation presidents, celebrated 35 great years of impactful work, passed the Polk County Water and Land Legacy Bond and have made great strides in funding the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. But probably the most inspiring part of this work was being part of a team of the most dedicated, caring, hardworking, passionate people I have ever met.

The decision to leave was not an easy one. But this transition is made easier knowing that because of INHF, I can continue to fulfill my purpose through supporting their work. So as I move from employee to volunteer, I want to say thank you to all the members, donors, board and staff for letting me be a small part of the tremendous legacy we are building together through the Foundation.

Sincerely,
Hannah Inman

Inman’s last day was May 31. Effective today, June 1, Joe Jayjack will be interim director of communications. Jayjack has been a communications specialist with INHF for the last six months.